A man was found dead under suspicious circumstances Wednesday afternoon in an Easton motel, according to the Northampton County coroner.

"We are investigating the death of an individual at the Quality Inn in Easton," Coroner Zachary Lysek said. "The death is being investigated as a homicide."

Easton police were dispatched at 5:55 p.m. to the motel at South Third Street and Larry Holmes Drive.

Lysek declined to say how the man died. He also would not say whether or not the homicide was related to an arrest Wednesday afternoon of a Riegelsville man in the 1300 block of Liberty Street in Easton.

That man, Jeffrey Knoble Jr., 25, was charged with making terroristic threats. Police said he had a handgun.

Five distraught relatives of the dead man arrived at the Quality Inn at 9:25 p.m. asking for information on his death. Officials did not allow them to go to the room where the man died, saying detectives were still collecting evidence.

Lysek said the motel was still open and had guests, but they were restricted from entering areas related to the homicide case.

Easton police, the county district attorney's office and the coroner's office were conducting a joint investigation, Lysek said.

He said more information will be released as soon as the man's next of kin are informed and the scene is processed.

Officials said two police officers were able to identify the dead man because they knew his face and his name.